This past Saturday the Jacks played their final game against New Mexico. It was also their last road game of the season. Odessa went into the game needing to win in order to remain in the hunt for the final playoff spot. As for New Mexico, they were in fourth but only one point ahead of Amarillo.
Odessa came out knowing exactly what needed to be done and just 14 seconds after the first puck drop, they were on the scoresheet. The goal was scored by Ryan Mansfield (20) after he jammed it past the leg pad of Carsen Stokes on the far side post. A few minutes later, Brendan Finn (9) put a rebound through Stokes’ five-hole to make it 2-0 Odessa. The Ice Wolves had some scoring chances but none of their eight shots made it past Greg Orosz. Odessa finished the first period with 13 shots.
The Jacks continued to dominate in the second period. At the 5:34 mark of the middle frame, Mansfield (21) would score a 5-on-3 power-play goal and his second of the night to give Odessa a 3-0 lead. As the game approached the halfway point, Dayne Hoyord (12) was wide open on the near post and easily tapped in a pass from William Marshall. Putting the Jacks up 4-0 and after that goal, New Mexico took out Stokes and put in William Craig. New Mexico would end Orosz’s hopes of a shutout at the 11:12 mark of the period as Yusaku Ando (15) let one fly from inside the left circle. The Jacks did not let that deter them and were quickly back on the scoring prowl. Ryan Kelly (13) would score a wraparound goal while on the powerplay to make it 5-1 in favor of Odessa. Then, just 33 seconds later, Emerson Goode (29) was between the circles and sent a quick shot past the glove of Craig making it 6-1 Jacks. The horn would eventually sound to send both teams into the locker room for the second. Intermission. The Jacks were outshooting the Ice Wolves, 32-19.
The Jacks played locked-down defense in the final period and were continuously blocking shots and getting in the shooting lanes. Only allowing New Mexico to produce nine shots in the third period. The Jacks went on to put up 11 shots in the period but were unable to add to their lead. Resulting in a 6-1 win for Odessa and keeping their playoff hopes alive. The Jacks outshot the Ice Wolves, 43-28. Odessa went 2/7 on the powerplay and New Mexico went 0/2. Odessa finishes the season with a 4-4 record against New Mexico.
The Jacks record is now 30-25-1-2 (63 points). It is just the second time in franchise history that a Jackalopes team reached 30 wins in a season. It was also the 25th win of the season for Orosz, and he is now two wins away from breaking Connor Hellebuyck’s record for wins in a season (26). Head Coach Scott Deur had this to say after the win, “I thought we had some bounces go our way, and scoring on the powerplay made a big difference. Which was a big momentum boost for us.” Odessa is now on a four-game win streak heading into their final regular-season games. They will host the Amarillo Wranglers, who are currently on a seven-game win streak and sitting in fourth place with 67 points. Odessa must sweep Amarillo in regulation and have Oklahoma sweep New Mexico in order for them to make the playoffs. The Jacks are 4-2 on the season against the Wranglers. The puck drop for both nights is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. CDT. Whichever team cliches the fourth place spot will play Oklahoma in the first round of the Robertson Cup Playoffs.
Photo credit: Danne Braden
